TOP OF THE NEWS
Typhoon Nepartak, with winds of up to 245kmh, is forecast to hit Taiwan today before moving on to China, bringing more heavy rain to a country already reeling from its worst floods in decades. Flooding in central, coastal and southern China the past week has already affected 32 million people in 26 provinces, with more than 180 people killed.
TOP OF THE NEWS
China has warned the United States to be cautious in handling the South China Sea dispute before a key court ruling on the disputed waters. Washington should take "no actions that harm China's sovereignty and security interests", said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
WORLD
Suspected Muslim militants yesterday killed at least three people, including two policemen, in a second attack in Bangladesh, days after a mass murder of hostages in the capital Dhaka. Police have appealed to Bangladeshis to be vigilant over the use of social media sites as a recruiting tool, and to report missing relatives.
WORLD
More than 100 million people are expected to be affected by the El Nino and La Nina weather patterns by the end of the year, with three in five of them suffering from food shortages, the United Nations said. It called on governments to help highly vulnerable communities.
OPINION
The United States is turning against liberal arts education, designed to encourage creative and entrepreneurial thinking, writes Professor Charles Bailyn of Yale University. Its future may well lie in Asia, he says, as he reflects on lessons from Singapore.
HOME
Museum to examine dolphin carcass
The carcass of a dolphin that washed up on a beach at the East Coast Park on Wednesday has been removed and the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum is examining it to see if it is suitable for preservation. The carcass has been identified as that of an indo-pacific humpbacked dolphin.
HOME
A court heard yesterday that former China tour guide Yang Yin told police that a sum of $500,000 he received from Madam Chung Khin Chun was a gift. He had told police earlier that the money was for him to buy a painting.
BUSINESS
Automation could replace many jobs but it will also make it even harder for firms to find high-skilled staff to operate equipment, according to an International Labour Organisation report. To meet this need, students could be encouraged to focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, it noted.
SPORT
First-time Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore organiser Ironman Endurance Asia has introduced changes for the 15th edition of the race. The marathon and half-marathon will both start in Orchard Road. Previously, the half-marathon started at Sentosa Gateway. The Kids' Dash has also been moved to Orchard Road and will be held a day earlier.
LIFE
A multi-concept wellness store, Mahota Commune, has opened in Jalan Besar. The 20,000 sq ft space in Kitchener Complex comprises a market selling organic produce and health foods, a restaurant and cafe, and a traditional Chinese medicine clinic. There is also an activity space for meditation classes.
LIFE
Rapper 50 Cent, whose once-extravagant lifestyle crumbled after a failed business deal and a lawsuit over a sex tape, has received court approval to get out of bankruptcy. According to his proposal, he will pay some US$23.4 million (S$31.5 million) to his creditors over five years.
